We survived Hurricane Camille in 1969 in Waveland, Mississippi. Preparing for a hurricane is an enormous task and must be carried out rather hurriedly. Does the storm's predicted size justify driving 50 miles inland? Or can we ride it out at the local shelter, or even at home? We compromised. We would not stay in our home so close to the water, but somehow we could not allow ourselves the melodrama of turning tail and heading north. That would surely be over-reacting. We decided to go to a friend's house six blocks away. Guided by weather reports, we taped our windows with huge X's of wide masking tape; moved furniture away from the windows and walls to the center of the room; rolled up carpets; packed jugs of drinking water, canned goods and a flashlight into a cardboard box. Choosing which personal belongings to take with such limited space was mind-boggling and emotional. We tried setting priorities. What can't be replaced? We decided on our photograph albums, vital family documents, and my treasured copy of David Copperfield. Our 5-year-old daughter, Kelly, usually talking non-stop, stood silently watching us, clutching her favorite doll. There is much more to this story of course, but thought you might find this interesting.

Sent by Muggs Hohs | 3:12 PM ET | 10-24-2007

I forgot to add that we lost everything, our home, our car all our belongings. All the photographs I took with us I left in the car and the car was "drowned" in salt water during the storm. Starting our lives over is another story indeed.

Sent by Muggs Hohs | 3:16 PM ET | 10-24-2007